Of course the reality is that the obstacles are my will power & ageing carcass…. Not a simple tree.

A couple of weeks ago there were two life changing events that got me into this painful & depressing situation.

1 - I was late walking down to catch the train & had to run about 1/2 mile in my overcoat & hat. Although I caught the train (just)…. I felt like death warmed up & declared I had to get fitter.

2 - A friend was muttering in the pub the next night about doing the local 10k race… and I had consumed a beer or two by that stage

Naturally the result was that I declared I was also going to do the 10k….. despite not having run for 8? years or more. I was convinced that having run marathons etc in the (dim & distant) past, a 10k would be no problem.

F*** - how wrong can you get !

Running at 50+ is way harder than I ever remember it being before. Shana has been joining me on my training runs. She clearly hates me now - but it is doing the old girl some good regardless (she is 11 1/2 years old - a veritable pensioner for a Ridgeback dog)